Machine for applying caps to cans.



T. H. RANBY. MACHINE FOR APPLYING GAPS T0 CANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED ,s AT s razrnnr oFFioE.

THOMAS H. BANEY, OF GHAPEL ,HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO THE RANEY OANNER COMPANY, OF HILL, NORTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATION.

MACHINE m new ine CAPS To cANs.

Specification of Lcttsrt .l

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

'Applicati on filed June 8, 1910, se ai 5 5,764.

Be it known that I, THoMAs HXBNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chapel Hill, in the county of Orange and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Machine for Applying Caps to Cans, of which the following a specification. I

My invention relates to machines for applying caps to cans and its object is to provide a simple and :inexpensive hand-op erated device by which the friction caps may be rapidly and easily applied to the cans and which will he cbnstructed to accommodate cans of various'heights and diameters.

A structure embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in certain novel features of the same which will be hereinafter first fully described and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved-can cap applying device showing the can in position therein. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the base or can support. ,Fig. 4- is a bottom plan view ,of the handle or operating lever with the cap engaging head .thereon. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a base 1 which is provided with a plurality of lugs 2 through which fastelnin screws 3 may he inserted to secure the device upon a work bench or other support. This base is U-shaped in plan view and upon its upper surface I provide a series of rests 1 upon which a cam body may be placed, the said rests being arranged in stepped relation whereby they will have successively increasing diameters from the lowermost rest to the uppermost one and, consequently will be adapted to receive and support can bodies of various diameters firmly against lateral movement, as will be readily understood on reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 3. These dotted lines indicate can bodies of different diameters, and it .will be-noted that the smaller circle coincides with the inner curved portion of the lowermost rest 4, while the larger circle occupies the same relation to the top rest. Upon considering Fig. 2 in eonnection with l glf'l, it will benoted that can body 5 will beheld in an upright position when its lower end is placed upon the upper surface of either restbr stop, and, by pushing the body home against the vertical shoulder 6 at the rear and sides of. the rest, the body will be brought into proper position to receive the cap when the same is forced downward by the operating lever or handle.

Adjacent lo the rear sideof the support or rest, I secure to the basev plate 1 a standard 7 which rises from the baseplate and is pro vided at its upper end with a fork or slot 8 and a plurality, of openings 9 whereby the operating lever or handle 10 may be pivotally'connected to the upper end of the stanc arda't various heights to accommodate can bodies of differentsizes. The operating lever or handle is secured to the standard by a pivot pin or screw ll inserted through the openings 9 and the end otthe handle, clearly shown. Adjacent its pivotal point, the lever has formed on its under side a flat circular presser head 12, the central portion of which is open and is reinforced by inteand thereby be limited iniits downward movement so that the cap will not be forced into the can to too great an extent. The construction of the presser head will permit the cap to sprin slightly upward when pressure is applie to its edges so that it will move readily into its proper engagement with the flange opening in the head of the i can.

It will be readily seen, from the foregoing description, that I have provided an ex-' ceedingly simple device which may be readily operated without liability of spilling" the contents of the can and without requiring any intricate adjustment-of parts in order to accommodate cans of vartbus sizes. It will be noted that the rests upon which the can bodies are supprted follow the shape of the base 1 so that a -shaped plat form is providedhaving an open front end and a semi-circular closed rear so that in 10 i placing a can body in position it as necessary only to raise the can sufiici ently to clear the step of the corresponding diameter and then slide the can rearwardly n the rest as far as it will go. The cap is then placed by hand in position over the opening in the upper end of the can, and/the lever brought down upon the same as will be readily understood. It will be noted thatthe presser head or plate is formed integral with the lever so that there is no liability of the head moving out of position to properly engage the cap, and as it is in efiect a. flat disk on the under side of the operating lever, the liability of the device being damaged or broken by contact with adjacent objects is avoided. V

The lever 10 is pivoted to the standard 7 slightly above the top of the can, and the head 12 does not project far beyond the under side of the lever. As a result, the lllOYCl'l'lOllt of thelever before the head conies in contact with the can is short, and there is danger of forcing the cap into the can too far.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A can cap applyin device comprising a U-shaped base formec of a single piece and having its upper face provided With a can caps.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my s1gnature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. RANEY.

\Vitncsses \V. H. Boom, \V. H. THOMPSON. 

